The main business of the Haut-Katanga Mining Joint Company is copper mines, just like the North Sea Joint Mining Company, but its scale is much smaller than that of the North Sea Union Mining Company. Moreover, the Haut-Katanga Mining Joint Company only mines ore, not ore.
Refinery, so Roque really doesn't have much interest in the Haut-Katanga Mining Conglomerate.
To take a step back, even if Roque is interested, there is no need to worry now, because the rebellion in the Congo Free State has also greatly affected the Haut-Katanga Mining Joint Company. Whether it can keep the mine in the future is another matter. Roque is completely
You can wait.
"Haut-Katanga Mining Joint Company has not been affected by the rebellion. Our mines are still operating normally and production has not been reduced. It is just that due to the current rebellion, the ore cannot be transported out of the Congo Free State, but the rebellion will eventually end.
, everything will return to normal by then." Isaiah Chamberlain's mood is still relatively optimistic, but the credibility of his words is not high, and no one knows the specific situation of the Upper Katanga Mining Consolidated Company.
Mines are different from plantations because they use a large number of miners. Generally, mines employ overseers and thugs. These overseers and thugs are equipped with weapons and are similar in nature to the army. This was also the case in the gold mines of Johannesburg before. Later, the Umbrella Company was established.
This situation has gradually changed.
The Haut-Katanga Mining Joint Company can barely survive thanks to the security teams established by the company. These security teams are well-equipped, not only equipped with light and heavy machine guns, but even armored vehicles. The poorly equipped rebels will indeed be unable to do so for a while.
Breach the mine.
"Do you think the Belgian government is capable of countering the rebellion?" Henry is welcome, Isaiah Chamberlain is also British.
"Who knows, maybe it can, maybe it can't, but it doesn't matter. Even if the rebels win in the end, the mine will always continue to operate." Isaiah Chamberlain doesn't care, this is the tragedy of the colony, even if
Even if the invaders are driven away, they will most likely not be able to govern the country.
Governing a country is a technical job, and it has always been easier to destroy than to build. Currently, Ethiopia is the only country in Africa that still maintains its independence. Unfortunately, two years ago, Menelik II, who unified the country, suffered a stroke and became paralyzed. Therefore, Ethiopia
The future is also unclear.
The current situation in the Congo Free State is worse than that in Ethiopia. Before Menelik II unified the country, Ethiopia still maintained its independence and did not become a colony. The foundation of its rule was still good.
The Congo Free State was brutally ruled by Leopold II for decades. Not only did its population decrease significantly, but its economic structure was single and it relied heavily on foreign trade. Without a strong government, the entire society would collapse in a very short period of time.
Complete collapse.
It must be emphasized here that companies during this period were indeed more efficient than the government in many cases. Several large companies in the Congo Free State performed better than the Belgian government.
At least when faced with rebellion, large companies in the Congo Free State immediately tried their best to save themselves. Regardless of the outcome, the reaction speed was indeed very fast.
It has been just over a month since the rebellion broke out in the Free State. The Belgian government has not taken any action other than issuing a mobilization order. It is said that Congress is discussing every day whether to send troops to counter the rebellion. The focus of the dispute is who should pay for the formation of the army.
Responsible. The Belgian government believes that the cost of establishing the army should be borne by large companies in the Congo Free State. The bosses of several large companies in the Congo Free State believe that the Belgian government should be responsible. Some people have suggested that Leopold II should be responsible.
, this proposal was responded to by most people, but Leopold II rejected the proposal on the grounds that the Congo Free State now had no relationship with him.
Just kidding, it was the Belgian government that forced Leopold II to hand over the management of the Congo Free State. Although Leopold II made some small moves, what he handed over to the Belgian government was a complete Congo Free State.
Now that a rebellion has broken out in the Congo Free State under the management of the Belgian government, the Belgian government actually wants Leopold II to fund the formation of an army. This is simply ridiculous.
"Then why are you looking for investment? Just wait for the rebellion to subside in Pretoria -" Henry said with a sarcastic look on his face. The most valuable part of an enterprise like the Katanga Mining Joint Company is the mining site and its technical content.
Basically no, they all rely on exploiting miners to make profits, just like the gold mines in Johannesburg.
In the past, Favalt Steel Company also relied on squeezing miners to make profits. Now with the development of Favalt Steel Company's laboratory and cooperation with local British steel companies, Favalt Steel Company's technical level is also booming. Nyasaland Military Industry
The gun steel used by the group and the ship steel used by Edward Shipyard are all produced by Favalte Steel Company.
Speaking of cooperation with local British steel companies, I would also like to thank Neville for his help. Neville was also engaged in the steel smelting industry before entering politics. He is very familiar with the British steel smelting industry. It was Neville's matchmaking and Favar's help.
Only then could Special Steel Company obtain relevant technologies so smoothly.
Compared with simply mining and selling money, it is indeed more difficult to improve technology, but after the technology reaches a certain level, the company's profits will be higher, and Henry has already tasted the sweetness.
The reason why Henry attaches great importance to technology is inseparable from Rock's strict requirements. The importance of steel to industry is self-evident. If Southern Africa wants to develop industry, steel must not only have production but also quality.
What I am also grateful for here is the rich mineral deposits in Southern Africa. When Rock was in school, he often read the term "vast territory and abundant resources" in his textbooks. Only when he arrived in Southern Africa did he know what it means to have a vast territory and abundant resources. In addition to oil, almost everything needed to develop industry is here.
Any raw material, and there are as many reserves as there are requirements. The key is that not only is it easy to mine, but the grade of the ore is also very high.
To put it bluntly, if southern Africa cannot develop industry, it will not be able to afford the underground mineral deposits in southern Africa.
"When the rebellion subsides, it's unclear whether the Haut-Katanga Mining Conglomerate will still exist -" Isaiah Chamberlain said with a wry smile. He is a professional manager, not a boss, so he cannot decide the fate of the company.
Because of the rebellion, the stocks of several large companies in the Congo Free State plummeted. British stocks did not have a price limit, and they could lose all their money in one day. After the rebellion, the face value of the shares of the Katanga Mining Union Company,
It is still less than 10% of its peak value. The shareholders of several companies are looking for someone to take over, but no one is stupid. The current Congo Free State is a fire pit, and you will only jump in if you are tired of living.
"Weren't you still very confident just now?" Henry had no mercy. Every one of the general managers and bosses of these mining companies in Africa has a lot of blood and debt on their hands. Even if they go bankrupt, they are doing it themselves.
"I definitely have confidence, but investors don't have confidence, and I don't want to lose this job." Isaiah Chamberlain finally has an advantage, but it's a pity that "honesty" is the least meaningful to a businessman. The quality of "honesty" is only useful when educating children. Honest people are often not popular in the adult world. It's not that honesty is bad, but that in many cases, we have to face this absurdity in a smarter way.
world.
Don’t get me wrong, “smarter” here doesn’t mean lying.
"Aha, you're right. Locke and I are both unconfident investors." Henry refused to let go. The copper mines in the Congo Free State are of little significance to southern Africa. The reserves in Nyasaland and Rhodesia are of little significance.
There are more areas than the Congo Free State, so Henry has it easy.
"Mr. Chamberlain, I give you two minutes to convince me that if you can show your value, then even if I will not invest in the Katanga Mining Consolidated Company, I will give you a job with similar status and income.
"Rock is still willing to give Isaiah Chamberlain a chance. No matter what era it is, there must be something special about being able to get into the upper class, either because of the resources or the ability.
"I am happy to serve you, Lord Nyasaland, but I need a quieter place." Isaiah Chamberlain's eyes flickered, obviously disgusted with the crowds here.
This problem can be easily solved. There is no other Rhodesian hotel and there are many rooms. Roque has a long-term private room in the Rhodesian hotel. Roque can book a room at any Rhodesian hotel in the world at any time.
Henry did not leave with Rock and Isaiah Chamberlain, and Henry was not interested in Rock's machinations. About half an hour later, Rock returned to the banquet hall, but Isaiah Chamberlain did not come back with him. p>
"Where's Isaiah Chamberlain?" Henry asked casually.
"Going back to the Congo Free State." Rock replied casually.
"Did you give him a job?" Henry was curious.
"Going back to the Congo Free State is the job I gave him." Roque holds a grudge. Fortresses are often breached from within. Isaiah Chamberlain knows more about the situation in the Congo Free State than Roque.
The key is that people like Isaiah Chamberlain have no bottom line. Just like Christian, he is willing to do any dirty work and has no moral obsessiveness. If used correctly, this kind of person is still very useful.
A week later, the miners of the Haut-Katanga Mining Conglomerate rioted. The angry miners broke through the defense lines set up by supervisors and thugs, rushed into the mine's arsenal and stole a large number of weapons. Another week later, the rebels of the Congo Free State
From the previous 200,000 people to 500,000 people.
Those who can work as miners are all strong young men, because most of them are strong because of manual labor all year round. When these people are armed, they are the main force of the rebels. The previous rebellions can only be said to be small fights.